Overweight Older People Live Longer

WebMD ^ | Jan. 28, 2010 | Salynn Boyles

[SmartInsight]

People who carry a few extra pounds after age 70 tend to live longer than people who don’t, new research finds.

Overweight older adults who took part in the Australian study had a clear survival advantage over those who were normal weight, underweight, or obese.

The findings suggest that the widely accepted body mass index (BMI) weight guidelines may not be particularly useful after age 70, lead researcher Leon Flicker, PhD, of the University of Western Australia tells WebMD.

Last summer, researchers in Canada reported the same findings after analyzing data from more than 11,000 adults followed for more than a decade.

In that study, people who met the criteria for being overweight were 17% less likely to die compared to people of normal weight.

In the newly reported research, overweight study participants in their 70s followed for up to 10 years had a 13% lower risk of death than participants classified as normal weight.

Women who were sedentary were twice as likely to die as women who got regular exercise, regardless of BMI.

The effect was seen in men, but to a lesser degree. A sedentary lifestyle was associated with a 28% increase in death among men.

[SmartInsight]

Active lifestyle more important than actual weight -- that is what the study seems to suggest.

[Berlin_Freeper]

It is new year, lose some weight.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Could it be that degenerative diseases which make the body waste away might actually pose a greater hazard to the elderly than a raised risk of coronary problems.

[SmartInsight]

Or maybe “normal weight” should be defined as a few pounds more thant what it is now, and the “slightly overweight” people are actually at an optimum weight for health.

[sheik yerbouty]

Maybe thin is where it’s been and fat is where it’s at..

[petro45acp]

Yet another study from yet another lab, burning $$$ on ANYTHING other than a cure for disease.

ruefully

[Mila]

"Maybe thin is where it’s been and fat is where it’s at.."

With your permission, I might just make that my slogan for 2010:)

[Drango]

I’m gonna live forever then.

[larryjohnson]

BM=26
AGE=72
lift weights,folks

[Fetid Facts]

"In that study, people who met the criteria for being overweight were 17% less likely to die compared to people of normal weight." and "Women who were sedentary were twice as likely to die as women who got regular exercise, regardless of BMI."

Being overweight and being sedentary ususally go hand-in-hand, but it's looking more and more like being active while carrying a few "extra" pounds is the best way to extend your life expectancy. I seriously doubt that many of the old folks "who met the criteria for being overweight" were actually all that fat.

[freebilly]

Two words: Yo Ga....

[rsobin]

The same people who went to the same schools that gave us global warming also gave us this BMI veggie crap.

[MaryFromMichigan]

Eat well.
Stay fit.
Die anyway.

[jwparkerjr]

I used to think I had to grow 6 inches taller. Now comes the good news that I only have to live one more year. Life is so good.

[doberville]

Excellent observation!

[PrincessB]

I’m also thinking that the body might change the way it metabolizes. Healthy eaters might have more overall defense mechanisms at 70.

[imfrmdixie]

Back in the 70s I had dessert plates with pictures of fat cows all dressed out in sexy makeup and shoes....the saying on the plates was "thin may be in but fats where its at"....I loved serving big ole fatty desserts on those plates!!

[wildbill]

Saved by avoirdupois! Gott mit uns!

[PuzzledInTX]

I second that opinion!

[dalereed]

What is this body mass thing?

I don’t have any overwieght relatives and can count on my 2 hands all relatives that have died before 90 in the last 200 years.

i’m 6’ weigh 180 and 72, the same as I was when I graduated from high school, what’s my body mass?